Turnstile



Aug. s, 1933. F, L, CHAPMAN 1,920,958

TURNSTILE Filed Jan. 51, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Zia/17% L. (kayo/nan jww 711.3 ATTORNEY Z 296 BY Aug. 8, 1933.

F. CHAPMAN 1,920,958

TURNSTILE Filed Jan. 51, 1930 a Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR I 57 ml L Cfia v/warr his ATTORNEY Aug. 8, 1933. F. CHAPMAN TURNSTILE Filed Jan. 51, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR flcuu% L.

Patented Aug. 8, i933 at at; res

enses ATENT rric 12 Claims.

The present invention relates to turnstiles and an object thereof is to provide a construction which will be compact, simple in its operation, having a minimum number of parts, and strong and durable in use. Another object of the invention is to provide a construction in which the operating parts are housed in a turnstile head of small height. A further object of the invention is to provide a novel means of mounting the opcrating parts in the turnstile head and render ing them accessible through a stationary cover at the top of the turnstile. Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel means of operating the detaining means. A still further object of the invention is to provide a gear on the interior of the turnstil'e head having the dual function of driving the counting mechanism and 7 also serving for engagement by a detent orpawl to hold the turnstile head against turning in one direction. Still another and further object is to provide a novel stop which will prevent the turnstile head moving farther than one station on each operation. Another and still further object is to provide for the reception of a plurality of coins into the machine at one time so that it may be successively controlled by such coins.

To these and other ends, the invention consists of certain parts and combinations of parts all of which will be hereinafter described, the novel features being pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the machine withvthe cover removed and parts in section, the parts being shown in the positions they occupy just prior to the turning of the turnstile head;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2--2, Fig. 1 showing the counting mechanism removed;

Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view of one of the centering devices;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section showing the normal position of the detaining means; 7

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the position of the detaining means just prior to the release of the coin; v

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View showing the manner in which the coins are delivered to and pass from the coin seat on the detaining member, on the line 66, Fig. i;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary view showing the manner in which the coin chute cooperates with the detent; i

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view showing the manner "duced portion an outwardly presented shoulder 1 and into the bearing head 5 to hold the retaining in which the counting mechanism is operated from the internal gear on the turnstile head;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view showing the nor mal position of the one station stop; and

Fig. 1'0 is a similar'view showing the one station stop in stop position.

In the illustratedembodiment of the invention, 1 indicates a support, in this instance, in the form of a hollow standard or post having an outwardly extending annular flange 2 at its top to which is secured by bolts a bearing head 4, which has a central reduced portion 5 projecting upwardly therefrom, the head having about its re- 6 provided with an annular groove 6 in which is arranged an annular series of balls 7.

Mounted to turn on'the support is the turnstile head, in this instance, comprising a ring 8 having the turnstile arms 9 projecting therefrom and said ring surrounding the reduced portion 5 and resting upon the annular series of balls 7. The upper edge of the turnstile ring is above the top of the bearing block, so that a chamber, is formed in the turnstile head forthe reception of controlling mechanisms of the turnstile.

The tur-nstile head is retained .on-the support by a retaining member 10; in this instance, in the form of a substantially cylindrical hollow ring member which is supported from the reduced portion 5 of the bearing head by spacing-devices 11 in the form'of sleeves. The retaining ring 10 has inwardly. extending lugs 12 through which pass bolts 13- which also pass through the sleeves 11 ring to the support above the turnstile head. A cover plate or disk 14 closes the top of the retaining ring and is held in position by inwardly extending lugs 15 on the retaining ring engaged by depending hookedor shouldered projections 16 on the under. face of the cover. Thecover hooks in-. terlock and disconnect with the projections 15 by rotatingthe cover 1'4 on the'ring 10. Any suitable locking device may be provided to hold the cover in closed position.

With the purpose in View of centering the turnstile head at its different stations, the head may carry centering means, in this instance, comprising a plurality of centering devices corresponding to the number of stations at which the turnstile head may be positioned. 'In this instance, there are four stations and four centering devices. Each centering device in this instance, comprises a hollow plunger 16% guided by the walls of a radial opening through the ring 8, the inner end of each plunger being tapered to enter any one of the tapered pockets 1'7 in the side of the reduced portion 5. Each plunger is pressed inwardly by a helical spring 18 which seats in the pocket of a plunger and also against a removable plug 19, closing the outer end of the radial opening in which the plunger slides.

With the end in view of locking the turnstile head at the different stations a locking means is provided comprising in this instance, four projections 20, each extended inwardly from the inner face of the turnstile head over the top of the reduced portion 5 and having an abutment 21 with which a locking member 22 cooperates. The locking member is, in this instance, in the form of a detent pivoted at 23 and normally held in looking position by a spring 24 against an adjustable stop 33 which may be turned to hold the detent out of detaining position.

Movement of the locking member or detent away from looking position maybe effected by a coinv controlled means comprising in this instance, an operator or lever 25 pivoted at 26 to the reduced portion 5 and operated by the faces 21 of the abutments 20. The detent22 when the turnstile head is in a stationary position, lies spaced from a face or abutment 21 so that when pressure is placed upon the turnstile head, there is a slightly lost motion between the detent 22 and the adjacent abutment 21. During this time the operator 25 starts to ride on another abutment 21 swinging the latter on its pivot 25. If no coin has been introduced into the machine, the detent 22 is not moved, and consequently engages the adjacent abutment 21 and stops further turning of the turnstile head.

If, however, a coin 28 has been introduced into the machine is establishes connection between the operator 25 and the detent 22 and the latter is shifted out of the path of the adjacent abutment 21, permitting the head to turn and the operator to ride over the surface 21 of the projection 20 which has shifted the operator, thus holding the detent out of the path of the adjacent projection until such a time that the operator 25 passes off the projection 20 which has'shifted the operator.

In order that a coin 28 may-make connection between the operator 25 and the detent 22, the latter has a coin slot 29 having a seat 30 and opening at one end, the operator 25 lying when in normal position inspaced relation to the detent so that the coin will abut at one edge a surface 31 on the operator 25 and be held to its seat 30. This surface at 31 engages the edge of the coin during the whole movement of the operator 25 under the action of the projection 20, but, when the operator steps off the projection 21, it moves away from the coin and the latter drops from the detent 22 through the slot-32 into the coin receptacle 33 in the bearing head 5, thus permitting the detent 22 to return to normal position against the adjustable stop 33% under the action of the spring 24. I 7

With the end in view of making it possible to drop a plurality of coins in the machine for the purpose of obtaining a number of successive operations of the turnstile head, the cover 14 has a coin chute 34 depending therefrom and lying over a shelf 35 on the detent 22, this shelf having the slot of the detent formed therethrough. In the-normal position of the detent 22 the coin slot in the detent is aligned with the coin passageway in the chute 34 so that a coin may pass to the coin seat 30 from the chute. However,

the seat 30 is so positioned that a single coin of proper value will have its upper edge extending to the plane of the shelf 35. Through this arrangement, the detent will swing to carry the solid portion of the shelf 35 beneath the chute 34.- and hold any other coins in the chute against descent until the detent 22 again swings back to align its slot with the passage of the chute. The chute passage may be of such a length to hold any desired number of coins and each will pass successively to the coin slot of the detent 22.

With the end in view of insuring the stopping of the turnstile head at the next station after each operation, there is provided a station stop device comprising in this instance, a detent 36 pivoted at 3'? and having a nose 38 which will successively engage the abutments 21 on the projections 20. Normally, this detent is held away from stopping position by a spring 40 which also connects with the operator 25 to hold the latter in the path of the projections'Z-O. The detent 36 is of' such a length and so positioned that its end ll will ride upon the projection 20 in advance of the projection 20 engaged by the nose 38 and shift the latter under its spring, may move away from stop position to permit the next operation of the turnstile head.

With the object in view of providing a non return movement of the turnstile head, a back stop may be prov" .ed comprising in this instance, a detent d2 pivoted at Hand having a nose 44 ad ted to cooperate with an annular series of teen 4.5 for)? d on the interior face of the ring 8 of the turn head. The nose i4 is so formed that when the turn-stile is moved from one station'to the other in its normal operation, the detent i2 rides over the teeth 45, but when an attempt is made to turn the turnstile head backward, the detent 42 engages one of the teeth and prevents such backward movement.

The teeth 45 may also serve as a gear for driving a counting mechanism 46 of any suitable construction. In this instance, the counting mechanism has a base plate 47 supported by two pins 48 and 49 projected upwardly from the top of the bearing member 5. On the pin 48 turns a bevel gear 50 which meshes with the bevel gear 51 on the shaft of the counting mechanism.

Also turning on the pin 18 and rigid with the gear 50'is a pinion 52 which meshes with the internal gear teeth 45 so that the counting mechanism is driven by the'turnstile head.

In operation one or more coins are dropped into the chute 34, the first reaching the coin seat 30. Pressure on the arms of the turn-stile head causes the operator 25 to engage the coin 28 on the coin seat and shift the holding detent 22 out of the path of the station abutment 2G, permitting the turnstile head to continue its movement. As the next station is approached the station stop detent 36 is shifted by an abutment 20 on the head of the turnstile, engaging the end 41 and shifting the end 38 in the path of another abutment 20, thus preventing spinning of the turnstile head beyond a'station. As the station is reached, the end 41 rides off its projection 20'so that the spring 40 may act on the station stop detent 36 and hold the nose 41 in a position where it will be in the path ofthe projection 20 which has just shifted such detent 35, so that the latter also acts as a back stop "when the turnstile :head is stationary. A back stop 42 :is also provided which serves 'to prevent the reverse movement of the turnstile head between station positions.

Ail operating mechanisms :are enclosed by the itur-nstile head above the standard, and may be readily reached by removing a stationary re-' movable cover supported by the retaining member which holds the turnstile head to the standard. The coin chute is carried by this cover and depends through the retaining ring i-nto cooperative relation to the coin control-led mecha- The holding detent for the turnstile head is operated a sing-le lever which in turn is shifted by the abutmentswhich engage by the holding detent. A novel station-stop is provided which is operated by and operates upon the sta tion abutments engaged by the holding detent. Ail of the detents may have their positions reversed if it is desired to operate :the 'tunnstile in the other direction. The counting mechanism is enclosed by the turnstile head and is driven by an internal gear on the head, this gear also cooperating with a back stop detent. The coin forms a direct connection between the holding detent and a single operating lever and is engaged at one edge. This not only determines the diameter of the coin but reduces to a minimum the possibility of 10st motion which would not be so selective as to the coin. The coins are fed to the machine at the top. and to one side of the center of rotation of the turnstile head, thus making it easy to reach by the users of the machine. Coins of smaller size than that for which the machine is designed will drop through the machine into the coin receptacle without permitting the operation of the turnstile.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A turnstile comprising a standard, a bearing on the standard having a reduced portion provided with a top surface, a turnstile having a vertical opening receiving the reduced portion of the bearing, the upper end of the opening being above the top surface of the bearing to provide a chamber within the opening of the turnstile head, station detents on the wall of said opening in the turnstile head above said top surface of the hearing, and detaining means mounted in said chamber on said surface.

2. A turnstile comprising a standard, a bearing on the standard having a reduced portion provided with a supporting surface on its uppermost portion, a turnstile head having an opening at its center the walls of which surround the reduced portion of the bearing member and project above the supporting surface, station abutments on the wall of said opening above said supporting surface, a detaining device mounted on said supporting surface to cooperate successively with said station abutments, and lying below the upper edge of the opening of the turnstile head within the opening of the latter, and a retaining member arranged above the turnstile head and detachably supported on the reduced portion of the bearing member.

3. A turnstile comprising a standard, a bearing on the standard having a reduced portion provided with a supporting surface on its uppermost portion, a turnstile head having an opening at its center the walls of which surround the reduced portion of the bearing member and pro-- ject above the supporting surface, station abutments on the wall of said opening above said supporting surface, a detaining device mounted on said supporting surface to cooperate successively with said station abutments, and lying below the upper edge of the opening of the turnstile head within the opening of the latter, and .a retaining member arranged above the turnstile head and detachably supported on the reduced bearing, .a stationary substantially cylindrical hollow :retainingring supported by the support, means adaptable for engagement with the support formaintaining the ring in spaced relation to the bearing, a turnstile :head spaced from the ring mounted to turn on the bearlng'beneath said ring and closing the space between the ring and the bearinga removable closure for the ring, and a releasable detent mounted on the support Within the turnstile head.

5; A turnstile comprising a support, a turnstile head mounted to turn on the support and having for each station an abutment, means for preventing the turnstile head turning in one direction, and means for limiting the movement of the 'turnstile head to a single station upon each operation thereof in the other direction, means engaging with the abutment at one station stop to stop the turning of the turnstile and with the abutment at another station to shift the said means to engaging position with the first mentioned abutment.

6. A turnstile comprising a support, a turnstile head mounted to turn on the support, and having for each station an abutment, means for preventing the turning of the turnstilehead in one direction, and a detent for limiting the movement of the turnstile head to one station on each operation, said detent having a portion engaging an abutment of one station and aportion moved by such engagement into another station abutment. I

'7. A turnstile comprising a standard, a turnstile head rotatable on the standard, and having an abutment for each station, a detent for engaging successively with said station abutments,

an actuating member, said actuating member and said detent being constructed to receive a coin between them and the actuating member successively engaging such abutments for moving the detent away from detaining position.

8. Aturnstile comprising a standard, a turnstile head rotatable on the standard and having an abutment for each station, a detent engaging successively with such station abutments, an operating lever engaging successively with said abutments, and said detent and lever being constructed to support a coin betweenthem to establish a connection for causing the lever to shift the detent away from detaining position when the head is pressed in'the direction of turning.

9. A turnstile comprising a standard, a turnstile head rotatable on the standard and having a plurality of station abutments, a double armed detent having one arm for cooperation with the abutments successively,'a spring for moving said detent to detaining position, a double armed lever having an arm arranged to engage successively with the station abutments, said lever and detent being constructed to support a coin between them, and the said coin being movable to a position between the other arm of the lever and the other arm of the detent, and being carried to a position by the detent and the lever where it drops out of connection with the two-parts and permits the detent to return under the action of the spring to normal position.

10. A turnstile comprising a standard, a turnstile head mounted to turn on the standard, coin controlled mechanism for controlling the turning of the turnstile mounted within the turnstile head but supported by the standard, stationary retaining means for holding the turnstile head to the standard supported by the standard, and

a coin chute supported by said stationary retaining means and depending therefrom into cooperative relationship with the coin controlled means. v

11. A turnstile comprising a standard, a turnstile head mounted to turn thereon and having a central chamber, coin controlled means arranged within the chamber for controlling the turning of the turnstile head, stationary substantially cylindrical hollow retaining ring supported above the turnstile head from the standard, means for maintaining the ring in spaced relation to the standard, a non-rotatable removable cover for the retaining ring, and a coin chute depending from the cover through said retaining ring to the coin controlled mechanism in the turnstile head.

-12. A turnstile comprising a standard, a turnstile head, a coin chute, and a detent for holding the turnstile at its different stations, said detent having a coin seat, and a ledge, and being movabletransversely of the coin chute to receive a coin from the chute when in detaining position and to carry the ledge under the chute to support coins therein while the detent is away from detaining position, and means actuated by the turning of the turnstile head to engage a: coin on the coin seat of the detent to shift the latter away from detaining position.

FRANK L. CHAPMAN 

